Method of and machine for multiple web fabric printing



March 10, 1936.

J. F, FOLE'Y ET AL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MULTIPLE WEB FABRIC PRINTING:

Filed Sept. 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS- JHMEs/Z FuLsY EEUREE EUJU/LLHHD ATTORNEY,

J. F. FOLEY ET AL METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MULTIPLE WEB FABRIC PRINTING Filed 'Sept. 28, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 n e l K? E l: ew n ummmum i llHHllHll R INVENTOR. JHMEE E F'cL EY Esunss EUULJ/L mm:

ATTORNEY.

March 10, 1936. I J. F. FOLEY ET AL 2,033,618

METHOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MULTIPLE WEB FABRIC l'nINTING Filed Sept. 28, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet'3 INVENTORS.

JHMEE E F0 L E Y GEUHEEE UUU/LLHED ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 10, 1936 PATENT OFFICE LIE'I'HOD OF AND MACHINE FOR MULTIPLE WEB FABRIC PRINTING James F. Foley George E. Couillard, Augusta,

Ga., minors to United Merchants & Manufacturers, Inc., New of Delaware York, N. Y., a corporation Application September 28, .1934, Serial No. 746,006

' Claims. (01. 101-178) a; Y Our present invention relates generally to the art of fabric printing and more particularly to an improved method of and apparatus for simultaneously printing designs upon a plurality of webs. v

At the present time it is the practice in the art of fabric printing to print on one machine designs in single or multi-colors upon a single web only, with the consequence that the daily output per machine is limited.

The prime object of the present invention is to provide a fabricprinting machine wherein a plurality of fabric webs may be printed simultane"- ously in one or more colors, and with the same or different patterns or designs, so that the daily output per machine will be increased two, three or more fold with its attendant and other advantages and savings.

Another object of the invention includes the provision of a construction and arrangement of partsfor simultaneously printing the several webs while preventing the webs from coming into contact with each other during the printing process, with the consequent advantages that print-- ing dyestuffs of different or opposing chemical characteristics may be used simultaneously on the same machine, and there can be no marking off which would result from one wet web contacting another.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for visibility at all times during the printing process of the different printed webs.

Still another object of the invention is to provide for using printing elements or rollers of varying circumferences, that is, the use of rollers or printing elements of one dimension on one web, and printing elements or rollersof a diiferent dimension on another or other webs.

, The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent and will be pointed out during the course of the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, in which we have shown, for the purposes of illustration, the invention'as applied to or used in connection with a known type of printing machine, namely, a cylinder machine; but it is to be understood that the invention may be practiced otherwise, or with other types of machines without departing from the .50 spirit thereof.

of fabric printing apparatus and dryer showin one form of our invention applied thereto Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevation of the printing cylinder frame and printing rolls of Fig. 1;

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a cylinder typi Fig. 3 is-a fragmentary front elevation of the driving means for the printing rolls;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of another form of our invention applied to a cylinder or drum type of fabric printing apparatus; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary eniielevation of a modiiication in ,the mounting for the independent printing and pressure rollers.

Referring to'Fig. l, the numeral 5 designates a roller which carries the fabric 6 to be printed upon, and I designates the roller carrying the tween guide rollers 8, broughttogether as they pass over upper guide rollers i0, and then arefed downwardly over roller Ii and around the cylinder l2, which is driven by any suitable source of power such as an electric motor, not shown. The

backing, cloth 8. Both webs are fed upward beknown construction and operation, as also are the winding-rolls It on which the backing cloth is wound after the printing. The printed cloth 6 after leaving the printing rolls I5 is fed up,

through a drying chamber designated generally by the numeral II, being fed therein over and around the drying cans or drums l8 and guide rollers l9 and 20, then to the winding apparatus, designated generally by the numeral 22. All of the foregoing parts are of known construction, 4

--to the" rollers 5 and I, and receiving, respectively,

a web 6' and a backing cloth 8' which are fed around guide rollers 9 and brought together overthe roller l0. Adjacent and above the cylinder l2 we provide a roller 23 across which the webs 6' and 8' move downwardly between printing rollers 24 and pressure rollers 25. when the web 8 and backing cloth 8 leave the rollers 24 and 25 they pass downwardly around a? guide roller 26 and beneath a platform 21, on which the operator may stand to inspect the web 3,

and at the other end of the platform the web and backing cloth pass around the guide roller 28 and thereabove a guide roller 2!. The backing cloth 8' moves around the roller 22 and down to the winding apparatus ll, while the printed fabric or web I moves up from roller 20 into the drying chamber 11 and then across cans or drums ll',and guide rollers I! and 20', all similartotheparts II, II and 20. Fromthe drying chamber the web 6' passes to winding apparatus identical with the winding apparatus 22, but not shown. It will be noted from the above general description and diagrammatic illustration of Fig. 1, that the invention provides a method for simultaneously printing a plurality of webs of fabric by simultaneously advancing the webs, each with a backing cloth, and separating the respective pairs of webs and backing cloths as they are advanced while imparting to the respective webs printed impressions either in single or multi-color, either identical with, or different from each other, according to the printing rolls, and maintaining the webs from contact with each other after the printing and during the drying.

InFigs.2and 3wehaveshownmoreindetail the construction and arrangement of the printing mechanism and wherein the cylinder I2 is mounted on a shaft 32 driven by any suitable means such as an electric motor, the shaft being journaled in the ends 33 of the machine, which are mounted upon the base 24. Each of the ends is provided with a plurality of extensions or brackets 28 between which are the color boxes or pots provided with the usual means for feeding the paste or die to the printing rollers 38, which are rotatably supported between the brackets 8' on shafts 2!, the ends of which extend beyond the printing surfaces of the rollers and are journaled in adjustable bearing blocks provided in the brackets II. Screws I! are mounted through the ends of the brackets 38 to adjust the positions of the blocks and to regulate the pressure of the printing rollers 38 relative to the cylinder 12 and the fabrics therebetween.

In the present'embodiment of the invention we have illustrated four rollers ll cooperating with the cylinder l2 to print the fabric passing therebetween, but of course there may be more or less of the rollers co-operatlng with the cylinder, and the number of active printing rolls so co-operating may be regulated at will.

Referring to Fig. 3, we have shown a relatively large gear 4|, keyed on the shaft 22 and having its teeth in mesh with a smaller gear 42 keyed to a shaft I. which is provided with sprockets 44. A sprocket chain II is trained around one of the sprockets M and another sprocket 4! on the shaft 41 which carries the upper roller 24. The lower roller 24 is keyed to a shaft ll whiehcarrles'a sprocket 5|, around which, and the sprocket 52 on the shaft 41, is trained a chain It. Obviously. the rotation of the cylinder effects rotation of the gears 4| and and consequently simultaneous rotation of the shafts l2 and 41, through the medium of'the sprockets 44,- 4. and chain. Also the rotation of the shaft 41 through the medium of the sprockets ll, 2 and chain It,- eifects rotation of the shaft II and consequently rollers 2|. 'ihe ratio of the gears and sprocketsimsgeh as to elect a predetermined synchronised rotation of --'the rollers 24 and 2! relative to the cylinder l2,

andtheprinting'rollersll.

Refen'lngagaintol lg.2itwlllbeesenthat the extensions or brackets 38', which correspond to the extensions or brackets 36, carry the color boxes, and the shafts 41 and 50, on which the separate printing rollers 24, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 1, are journaled. Shafts N, which by means of filler or spacer blocks 58 are spaced from the cylinder l2, carry pressure rollers 25. This spacing of the rollers 25 from the cylinder l2 partly effects the separation of the webs being printed, and also provides for the separate printing of the two webs by a single operation and on a single machine. Obviously any desired number of brackets 36' may be provided or utilized in connection with printing rollers 24 in printing the web 6; and the printing rollers may be interchanged at will and rollers of different size and containing different patterns may be used.

It should also be noted that the pressure rollers 25, spacer blocks and shafts 54 can be removed from the brackets I6, 26' and print rollers 24, 24 can be substituted therefor to print additional patterns or colors on the web 6. Thus, the machine maybe used alternatively as a six color or six pattern machine to print one web or may be used to print two webs in the manner shown in Fig. 1.

Furthermore, more than two webs may be simultaneously printed in accordance with the invention, by providing additional rollers printing independently of the cylinder. This latter feature will be better understood after considering a modification of the invention about to be described.

Referring to Fig. 4 it will be noted that there 1 are a plurality of rollers 6., l0 and 60" containing or having wound thereon the fabrics to be printed, and designated respectively as F, F and F". There are also a corresponding number of rollers 6|, GI and Cl", having wound thereon the backing cloth B, B, B", respectively. These fabrics and backing cloths are arranged in pairs the same as the fabrics and backings of Fig. 1, that is, the webs F and B pass to one set of printing elements, the webs F and B to another set of printing elements, and the webs F" and B" to another set of printing elements. Of course this is illustrative of how more than two webs may be printed simultaneously, and it is to be understood that any number of webs more than three can be printed simultaneously by arranging the printing elements and the driving mechanism therefor.

In the embodiment of the invention being described the fabric F and backing cloth 3 pass over a guide roller 62; and the fabric F and backing cloth B pass over a similar guide roller 63, while the third web of fabric F" and backing cloth B" pass over the guide roller ll. As shown, all of the guide rollers are arranged above the rollers from which the fabrics and backing cloths are fed. The respective pairs of webs of fabrics and backing cloths pass from the guide rolls 02, 63 and M over a common guide roller I located above and adjacent the cylinder l2", which may be driven in the same manner as explained in connection with cylinder I2, Figs. 14. Afterleaving the guide roll 65 the respective pairs of'fabrics and backing cloths pass downwardly between the cylinder I 2" and the roller ll adjacent which point the respective pairs of fabrics and backing cloths are separated and printed. The fabric F and backing cloth B pass from the roller it between the pressure roller i1 .and a colors.

The printing roller 68 has its shaft connected to a sprocket 69 driven by a chain I0 from one of the sprockets 44 shown in Fig. 3, and designated in Fig. 4 by the numeral 44'. The fabric F and backing cloth B move between the roller 86 and cylinder l2" out of contact with the presure roller 61, which of course is spaced from the cylinder I 2", and between printing roller II and pressure roller II, which has keyed to its shaft a sprocket 12. A second chain 13 is trained around sprocket 12 and another of the sprockets 44 and also designated in the diagrammatic view of Fig. 4 as 44'. Of course each of the shafts driving the rollers 68 and II may be equipped with double sprockets when more than one printing roller is used for each of the fabrics to receive chains 69' and 12' to drive the other printing and pressure rollers.

The fabric F" and backing cloth B" continue around the cylinder l2" and pass between printing rollers 38' corresponding to the printing rollers 38 of Fig. 2, so that three webs of fabric are simultaneously printed on the same machine either in the same design or pattern or color or colors, or in different designs or patterns and The patterns of course depend upon the engraving on the printing 'rollers, and the colors depend upon the dies which are fed to the printingrollers- Furthermore, while we have shown in Fig. 4 two sets of printing rollers for the various combinations are practically inexhaustible.

As the webs are printed, the fabric F" passes upwardly from the cylinder across a guide roller 15 to the drying chamber and adrying and winding mechanism such as the chamber I1 and the drums and rollers l8, l9 and 20 of Fig. 1. The fabrics F, and F pass downwardly from their printing rollers and around guide rollers I6 and 11, respectively, and then horizontally beneath a platform P, at the other end of which the fabric F and its backing cloth pass around the guide roller Ill. The fabric F then moves across guide roller [9 to the drying chamber and its, dryingmechanism. The fabric F-and backin cloth B continue beyond the roller II and pass around a guide roller at the far end of a second platform P located between drums 8| and B2 on which the backing cloths B and B are wound. The fabric F continues up and across the guide roller 83 to its set of drying drums and winding mechanism. The backing cloth F is wound on the drum 82 after passing over the guide roll 83, while the backing cloth F is wound 1 on the drum 8| after passing over guide roller 19; and the backing cloth B" is wound on the drum or roller 84 after passing around the guide roller I5 and another guide roller 85.

The operator may stand on the platform P to inspect the printing on fabric F" and on the platform P to inspect fabric F, or at one side to inspect all simultaneously.

Under the embodiment of the invention shown and described indetail in Fig. 2, the brackets 38' adjustably support the auxiliary printing and pressure rollers, and fixed filler blocks ii of predetermined dimensions according to the size of the rollers are used. However, we have shown in Fig. 5 a modification in the means for spacing sizes but also to provide a take-up on the pres- A collar 93 is keyed to a screw 94 as indicated at .95. The inner end of the bracket 38 is provided with a square opening or socket 96 which receives a nut 91 having preferably squared screw threads to mesh with the threads of the screw 94. Obviously, rotation of the screw 94 will cause rotation of the collar 93, and consequently will regulate the pressure on the bearings for the pressure rollers 25'. 1

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for simultaneously printing a plurality of webs of fabric comprising a rotary cylinder, means to rotate the cylinder, 9. group of printing rollers cooperating with the periphery of the cylinder to print a web of fabric passin therebetween, a second group of printing rollers spaced from said cylinder to print another web of fabric passing between said. second group of rollers, means'operable by rotation of said cylinder to rotate said second group of rollers and to 7 advance the second web of fabric therebetween at the same speed as said first web, supporting .racks located substantially at floor level to'removably and rotatively support a plurality of rolls of webs of fabric to be printed and backing cloths therefor, separate guiding means above said racks for bringing each web of fabric to be printed and its companion web of backing cloth together in sets to a common point adjacent said cylinder,

one of said sets contacting the cylinder and passsaid cylinder to rotate said second group of rollers and to advance'the second web of fabric therebetween at the same speed as said first web, sup? porting racks located substantially at floor level to removably and rotatively support a plurality of rolls of webs of fabric to be printed and backing cloths therefor, separate guiding means above said racks for bringing each web of fabric to be printed and its companion web of backing cloth together in sets to a common point adjacent said. cylinder, one of said sets contacting the cylinder and passing partly therearound under said first rollers, and the other set being guided away fromsaid first set and between said second group of rollers, means operable by rotation of rollers, two sets of drying cans located beyond the printingapparatus, and means for guidingsaidprintedwebstosaiddrylnscansinspaced relation to each other and for training one web partially about the peripheries of one set of drying cans and the other web partiallyabout the peripheries of the other set of drying cans.

3. Apparatus for printing webs of fabric comprising a printing machine having an impression cylinder, means to rotate said cylinder, a frame having a plurality of brackets for supporting printing rollers, a group of printing rollers mounted in certain of said brackets and cooperating with a portion of the periphery of said cylinder and rotated thereby to print a web of fabric passing between said rollers and cylinder, a second group of cooperating printing and impression rollers mounted in others of said brackets and spaced from the periphery of said cylinder, means in said second group of brackets for spacing said second group of printing and impression rollers from said cylinder, positive driving connections between said group of printing and impression rollers and said cylinder driving means whereby all of said rollers are rotated simultaneously to advance the respective webs of fabric at substantially the same speed, and means for guiding and training two separate sets of webs to be printed, each with an associated backing cloth, from separate sources of supply, one set partially around the impression cylinder and in association with the first named printing rollers, and the other set between the second group of printing and impresiori rollers.

4. Apparatus for printing webs of fabric comprising a printing machine having an impression cylinder, means to rotate said cylinder, 8. frame having a plurality of brackets for supporting printing rollers, a group of printing rollers mounted in certain of said brackets and cooperating with a portion of the periphery of said ins and impression rollers and said cylinder driving means whereby all of said rollers are rotated simultaneously to advance the respective webs of fabric at substantially the same speed, and means for guiding and training two separate sets of webs to be printed, each with an associated backing cloth, from separate sources of supply, one set partially around the impression cylinder and in association with the first named printing rollers, and the other set between the second group of, printing and impression rollers, said group of printing rollers and said second group of printing and impression rollers being interchangeable in said brackets.

5. Apparatus for printing webs of fabric comprising a printing machine having animpression cylinder, means to rotate said cylinder, a frame having a. plurality of brackets for supporting printing rollers, a group of printing rollers mounted in certain of said brackets and cooperating with a portion of a. periphery of said cylinder and rotated thereby to print a web of fabric passing between said rollers and cylinder, a second group of cooperating printing and impression rollers mounted in others of said brackets and spaced from the periphery of said cylinder, means in said second group 'of brackets for spacing said second group of printing and impression rollers from said cylinder, positive driving connections between said group of printing and impression rollers and said cylinder driving means whereby all of said rollers are rotated simultaneously to advance the respective webs of fabric at substantially the same speed, and means for guiding and training two separate sets of webs to be printed, each with an associated backing cloth, from separate sources of supply, one set partially around the impression cylinder and in association with the first named printing rollers, and the other set between the second group of printing and impression rollers, two sets of drying cans located beyond the printing apparatus and means for guiding said printed webs to said drying cans in spaced relation to each other and for training one web partially about the peripheries of one set of drying cans and the other web partially about the peripheries of the other set of drying cans.

JAIMES I". FOLEY. GEORGE E. COUHLARD. 

